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Punto headed to DL with right hamstring strain

8/2/14: Jed Lowrie hits an RBI single on a grounder to left field and Nick Punto is injured on the play while rounding third base

By Jane Lee
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MLB.com |

OAKLAND -- A's infielder Nick Punto sustained a right hamstring strain in the middle of Saturday's 8-3 win over the Royals and is expected to be placed on the disabled list on Sunday.

After singling in the fifth, Punto was rounding third base before retracing his steps on a Jed Lowrie single when he slipped and reached for the ground in pain, bringing manager Bob Melvin and an A's trainer out of the dugout immediately. Eric Sogard replaced him on the bases.

It will be the first DL stint of the season for Punto, who also missed a handful of games in May with a left calf strain.

His replacement is likely to be either Andy Parrino or Nate Freiman, who was scratched from Triple-A Sacramento's lineup on Saturday -- an indicator that he may very well already be heading back to Oakland.

Jane Lee is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Major Lee-ague, and follow her on Twitter @JaneMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.